Method of independently controlling computer lighting

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a method and system that provides independent control over lighting within a computer case. Each inverter module is provided with its own switch to facilitate independent control of illumination. Preferably, the switches are located in a bus that fits within a drive bay and the inverter is directly mounted onto the housing that contains the switch. In another embodiment, the inverter is integrated in a printed circuit board that is inserted into the card slots (e.g. ISA, VESA, PCI, and PCI-Express card slot) on the mother board of the computer. Therefore, the on and off of CCFL inverter can be controlled by software application through the ISA, VESA, PCI, or PCI-Express bus.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/409,606 filed Mar. 1, 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method and system of controllingcomputer lighting, and more particularly to a method and system thatprovides independent control over lighting within a computer case.

Description of Related Art

Increasingly, lighting is used within computer cases for both decorativeand functional purposes. For example, the lighting may be used todisplay the inner components of the computer, to enable visualization ofthe proper component operation (e.g. to ensure that a fan is stillspinning), or to enable visualization of labels such as service tags.One of the common forms of lighting used within computers is coldcathode fluorescent lighting (CCFL). Light emitting diodes, or LEDs, area second type of lighting that may be used. In the current state of theart, cold cathode fluorescent lights are generally attached to a switchwhich is mounted typically in a rear slot of the case. The switch isconnected to an inverter, and the inverter is connected to the coldcathode fluorescent light. The inverter takes a voltage from thecomputer power supply (e.g. 12 V or 5V), and raises it to a highervoltage in order to operate the cold cathode fluorescent light. Theinverter may allow for one or often two cold cathode fluorescent lightsto be powered off of it. While the switches are typically located in aslot in the rear of the computer, it would be advantageous to have theswitches on the front panel of the computer, particularly in a drivebay. The drive bay could be either 5.25″ or 3.5″ or 2.5″ or any standardsize adapted within the computer industry.

There are several disadvantages with the current state of the art.First, when using a plurality of cold cathode fluorescent lights,independent control is lost as a single switch is used to control one ormore cathodes. Independent control is desirable, particularly when thereare cathodes of different colors and one would like the option to choosea specific color or combination of colors for the lighting, as well asto have the option to manually adjust the lighting.

In order to have independent control of the lights, multiple invertersand multiple switches are required. In the current state of the art, theinverters are contained in separate enclosures and must be housed withinthe computer case. This may be disadvantageous since the invertermodules are typically attached using double sided tape or Velcro to oneof the walls of the case, and may restrict airflow which is critical forthe cooling of today's high speed computers, which typically operate atclock frequencies above 2 GHz. In addition, the use of multipleswitches, which each occupy a slot in the rear of the case, preventsother devices from being placed in those slots. In addition, placementof the inverters can be a time-consuming process, relative to theinvention disclosed herein.

Numerous products involving CCFL lighting for personal computerapplications are available from manufacturers and distributors.Companies involved in their production and sale include Logisys,Lamptron, Xoxide.com, and Newegg.com. U.S. Pat. No. 7,315,298 (Apparatusfor controlling CCFL and method for operating the same) pertains to CCFLlighting control. However, this patent is significantly different fromthe invention disclosed herein in that it uses a sound wave to alter thelighting control.

Lamptron and other manufacturers produce baybus controllers for personalcomputers intended to control computer case fans. These controllerscannot be directly connected to CCFL inverters because the connectortype used to interface between the baybus controller and CCFL inverterare different. Identification of the appropriate connectors, wiring theconnectors together, soldering of the connections, and proper insulationis required to use these baybus switch products with an externallylocated CCFL inverter. In addition, these products do not physicallymount the CCFL inverter onto the baybus, where it would minimize casereal estate and air flow obstructions. Lamptron also produces a 4 portCCFL inverter as well as an 8 port CCFL inverter, which allows a singlepower connection from the power supply to power multiple CCFL lights.Their product enables multiple CCFL lights to be driven from a singleenclosure containing multiple inverters. However, no independent controlover the lighting and no on-board means for switching are provided inthis product.

Therefore, there exists a need for a method and system that providesindependent control over the CCFL lighting within a computer case andsuch method and system should not restrict airflow within computer or bea time-consuming process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is to provide for independentcontrol over lighting within the computer case.

Another object of the present invention is to provide independentcontrol over lighting within the computer case without restrictingairflow inside the computer.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide independentcontrol over lighting within the computer without restricting theairflow inside the computer and such method and system to result in atime-efficient process for assembly of the lighting configuration.

The invention provides for independent control over computer caselights. Each inverter module is provided with its own switch tofacilitate independent control of illumination. The switches may bemechanically and/or electrically actuated. Preferably, mechanicalswitches are located on a baybus that fits within a drive bay, either5.25″ or 3.5″, or 2.5″ or any standard size developed within thecomputer industry.

In one embodiment, the CCFL inverter circuit board is directly mountedonto the housing of the baybus containing switches that fits within a5.25″ drive bay, 3.5″ drive bay, or 2.5″ drive bay. The CCFL invertercircuit board can be mounted vertically or horizontally onto thehousing. The best mode of the invention is to mount the CCFL invertercircuit board vertically onto the housing placing the CCFL inverteradjacent to switch mounting point. In a second embodiment, the CCFLinverters may be embedded onto the switch controller circuit board.

In a third preferred embodiment, the CCFL inverter is placed onto aprinted circuit board such as the ISA, VESA, PCI, or PCI-Express cardthat would insert into a card slot of the computer, for example, an ISA,VESA, PCI, or PCI-Express card slot. The CCFL inverter may be controlledby electrically actuated switches via software application through edgeconnector of the ISA, VESA, PCI, or PCI-Express card.

By utilizing a software application, the embodiment has automaticcontrol over the lighting, it can automatically adjust the color withinthe computer case based on a timer, a preset algorithm, or based onmeasurement events such as the amount of processing power being utilizedby the computer, the amount of memory being utilized, the temperature ofcomponents, or by external triggers obtained through a network, such asthe internet.

Optionally, a plurality of mechanically actuated switches offeringindependent control over the lights may be located on the back of thecard (for example, ISA, VESA, PCI, or PCI-Express card) slot and will beaccessible at the rear of the computer case when inserted into thecorresponding card slot.

Another embodiment of the present invention has a baybus switchcontaining an embedded CCFL inverter wherein the switch is connected toboth a CCFL inverter and a case fan and may be used to control eitherthe CCFL inverter or the case fan or both.

The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined inorder that the more detailed description that follows may be betterunderstood and in order that the present contribution to the art maybetter be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will bedescribed hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claimsthat follow.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, itis to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applicationto the details of construction and the arrangements of the componentsset forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced andcarried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred feature of thepresent invention so that those skilled in the art may better understandthe detailed description of the invention that follows. Additionalfeatures of the invention will be described hereinafter that form thesubject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art shouldappreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception andspecific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying otherstructures for carrying out the same purposes of the present inventionand that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scopeof the invention in its broadest form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention willbecome more fully apparent from the following detailed description, theappended claims, and the accompanying drawings in which similar elementsare given similar reference numerals.

FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram of a method of independently controllingcold cathode florescent lamp (CCFL) lighting inside a drive bay within acomputer case through mechanical switches according to the principles ofthe invention.

FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram of a method of independently controllingcold cathode florescent lamp (CCFL) lighting within a computer caseusing electrically actuated switches via software application throughedge connector of the ISA, VESA, PCI, or PCI-Express card.

FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram of a method of independently controllingcold cathode florescent lamp (CCFL) lighting within a computer casethrough electrically-actuated switches or mechanical switches accordingto the principles of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an angled top view of a modified baybus having advantages ofmounting the inverter circuit boards directly onto the housing of thebaybus that contains the switch controller circuit board.

FIG. 5 is an angled top view of a modified baybus having advantages ofembedding inverters and switch controllers on the same printed circuitboard.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a computer in transparency showing a modifiedbaybus placed into the drive bay of a computer.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a computer in transparency showing that theinverter modules is placed onto a printed circuit board (e.g. ISA, VESA,PCI, or PCI-Express card) that would insert into a card slot of thecomputer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a flow diagram of a method ofindependently controlling cold cathode florescent lamp (CCFL) lightingwithin a computer case through mechanical switches according to theprinciples of the invention. At the first step, each individual CCFLinverter circuit is provided its own switch, block 10. Then, theelectrical terminals of the switches are placed on a printed circuitboard and the actuating means of the switches are placed on an outerface of a housing, blocks 11 and 12. The CCFL inverter modules may beput together to form an inverter circuit board that is mounted directlyonto the housing of the baybus that already contains the switchcontroller circuit board whereby the CCFL inverter circuits makeelectrical contact with the switch, block 13. Alternatively, the CCFLinverter may be embedded onto the switch controller circuit boardwhereby the CCFL inverter circuits make electrical contact with theswitch, block 14. Then said housing is placed within a drive bay, blocks15. Thereafter, each CCFL is connected to the output of thecorresponding CCFL inverter, block 16.

Referring to FIG. 2 there is shown a flow diagram of a method ofindependently controlling cold cathode florescent lamp (CCFL) lightingwithin a computer case through electrically-actuated switches accordingto the principles of the invention. First, one or more CCFL inverter isembedded onto a printed circuit board/card that has a plurality ofelectrically-actuated switches whereby the CCFL inverter can beindependently controlled by the corresponding switch, block 20. Then,the printed circuit board/card is inserted into a card slot on acomputer board, block 22. Once the printed circuit board/card isinserted, the electrically-actuated switches that offer independentcontrol over the CCFL inverter will be in electrical contact with thecard slot on the motherboard through the printed circuit board/card edgeconnector; each CCFL inverter is independently controlled by itsdedicated switch. Finally, each CCFL is connected to the output of thecorresponding CCFL inverter, block 24. There may be mechanicallyactuated switches on the printed circuit board/card to control on andoff of each light so that when the edge connector of the printed circuitboard/card is placed in the circuit board card slot on the motherboard,it will be exposed and accessible on the computer case, block 34 asshown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 shows an angled top view of a modified baybus 100 with aninverter circuit board 42 mounted directly onto the interior of thehousing 50 of the modified baybus 100 that contains the switchcontroller circuit board 44. FIG. 5 shows an angled top view of amodified baybus 100 which includes an inverter embedded switchcontroller circuit board 62 in a front drive bay housing 50, whereby theCCFL inverters 41 make electrical contact with their dedicated switchelectrical terminals and the inverter embedded switch controller circuit62 is attached directly to the housing 50. In both FIG. 4 and FIG. 5each inverter 41 is provided with its own mechanical switch 45 on thefront. Each CCFLs 52 may then be connected to the output of thecorresponding CCFL inverter 41 via cables 54.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the modified baybus 100 installed within acomputer drive bay 40. Such a baybus housing 50 fits a 5.25 inch, 3.5inch, and/or 2.5 inches drive bay, and/or any standard size drive bays40 that have been developed in the computer industry.

A side view of an embodiment that is assembled according to theaforementioned flow diagram where the CCFL inverters 41 are embeddedonto a printed circuit board/card 60 that would insert into a card slot70 of the computer is shown in FIG. 7. For example, the inverter 41could be embedded on an ISA, VESA, PCI, or PCI-Express card 60 whichthen is inserted into an ISA, VESA, PCI, or PCI-Express card slot 70 onthe mother board 80. Power may be accessed directly from the card bus,or through an external molex connector 64 that supplies power from thepower supply 90 into the printed circuit board/card 60.

The CCFL inverter 41 may be controlled by electrically actuated switches(not shown) via software application through the edge connector (notshown) of the ISA, VESA, PCI, or PCI-Express card 60. Ultimately, thesoftware application controls on and off of each light and their usage.A still further aspect of the embodiment would be the automatic controlover the lighting to adjust the color within the computer case, such asbased on a timer, a preset algorithm, or based on measurement eventssuch as the amount of processing power being utilized by the computer,the amount of memory being utilized, the temperature of components, orby external triggers obtained through a network, such as the internet.Examples of external triggers could include, but are not limited to, forexample, the direction of a stock market index, the temperature orweather, a calendar date, holiday or time of year, or a sports score.

Additionally, mechanical switches 45 offering independent control overthe CCFL lights 52 may be located on the rear of the card 60 and onceinserted in the card slot/bus 70 is accessible at the rear of thecomputer case 200.

Alternatively, another embodiment provides a modified baybus 100containing an embedded CCFL inverter 41 wherein the switch 45 isconnected to both a CCFL inverter 41 and a case fan and may be used tocontrol either the CCFL light 52 or the case fan or both.

While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the methodologies areshown and described as a series of blocks, it is to be understood andappreciated that the claimed subject matter is not limited by the orderof the blocks, as some blocks may occur in different orders and/orconcurrently with other blocks from what is depicted and describedherein. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks may be required toimplement the methodologies described hereinafter.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out thefundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferredembodiments, it will be understood that the foregoing is considered asillustrative only of the principles of the invention and not intended tobe exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed.Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the aboveteachings. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described toprovide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and itspractical application to enable one of ordinary skill in the art toutilize the invention in various embodiments and with variousmodifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All suchmodifications and variations are within the scope of the invention asdetermined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance withthe breadth to which they are entitled.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of independently controlling coldcathode florescent lamp (CCFL) lighting within a computer casecomprising: a. mounting a plurality of CCFL inverters onto a printedcircuit board, each said CCFL inverter is connected to anelectrically-actuated switch whereby each said CCFL inverter isindependently controlled by said corresponding switch; b. inserting saidprinted circuit board into a card slot on a computer motherboard, oncesaid printed circuit board is inserted, each of saidelectrically-actuated switch that offers independent control over saidcorresponding CCFL inverter module is in electrical contact with a cardslot on the motherboard through a printed circuit board edge connectoron the printed circuit board; and c. connecting each CCFL to the outputof said corresponding CCFL inverter.
 2. The method of independentlycontrolling CCFL lighting according to claim 1, wherein said card slotis one of ISA, VESA, PCI, and PCI-Express card slot.
 3. The method ofindependently controlling CCFL lighting according to claim 1 furthercomprising providing a software application to control on and off ofeach light.
 4. The method of independently controlling CCFL lightingaccording to claim 1 further comprising providing a software applicationto automatically adjust color within the computer case based on a timer.5. The method of independently controlling CCFL lighting according toclaim 1 further comprising providing a software application toautomatically adjust color within the computer case based on a presetalgorithm.
 6. The method of independently controlling CCFL lightingaccording to claim 1 further comprising providing a software applicationto automatically adjust color within the computer case by externaltriggers obtained through the internet.